Tag Archive for Travel

| February 20, 2013
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The Thais that Bind

thai4A Guide to Thailand

By Caroline Frappier

When I was prepping for my trip to Thailand in January, I was unusually calm about the entire planning process. With only a couple of months before the new year, I decided to meet my long-time partner-in-crime, Kathleen, at the Bangkok airport in February. This last-minute, loose schedule, devil-may-care approach to travel made my parents want to lock me up in the cellar.

“Check in every three to four days now, you hear?” barked my father when he dropped me off at the airport the morning of February 4th.

“Hopefully they have internet!” I replied as I moved to grab my backpack out of the trunk. As we embraced, I felt a certain uneasiness at the thought of the journey that was waiting for me on the other side of the globe. I had done very little research on the country I would be traveling through for an entire month. The fun was just beginning. Read more

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| March 27, 2012
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7 Steps to Summer Safety

photo by Grethe Boe, Norway, Jul 15, 2010

Follow these simple rules to home security before heading out to the lake this weekend.

by Amanda Grinstead

Summer schedules are often busy with fun-filled activities that take you and your family out of the house. But before you leave on a camping trip, vacation, or a weekend visit to the cottage, check out our guide to home security. On the Danforth spoke with Constable Ingrid Hannah, Crime Prevention Officer for Division 54 of the Toronto Police Service, to learn about the 7 simple steps that can greatly reduce your risk of home invasion and theft while you are away this summer.

  1. Install window and door security systems. Alarms, deadbolts and window locks are quick and easy ways to make your home more secure since they discourage most intruders and can alert neighbours of break-ins so they can, in turn, contact the police.

    photo by Roger Kirby, Savannah, Apr 2, 2011

  2. Set interior lights on timers and install motion sensor lights outside of the house. Lighting is a simple and effective way to deter criminals. It gives the impression that someone is in the house and attracts the attention of neighbours when motion-detecting lights turn on.
  3. Have a friend, family member or neighbour collect your mail. Planning ahead before taking an extended leave from home is the key to home security.
  4. Ask a friend, family member or neighbour to move your garbage and recycling bins to give the impression that someone is home. “The idea is to remove or change things around the home that act as clues to criminals and reveal to them that you’re not at home,” says Constable Hannah.
  5. Consider asking someone to housesit while you and your family are away. This ensures that someone will be around regularly to check-up on the house.
  6. Attend a presentation or workshop hosted by the Toronto Police Serviceto learn more about preventing crime in your community. Constable Hannah gives presentations to the community about personal safety and home security to help individuals avoid situations that can make them a target for crime.

    photo by Grethe Boe, Norway, Jul 15, 2010

  7. Double check. It’s easy to forget to lock every door and window while rushing to beat traffic out of the city, but it’s worth the extra time to check over locks, lights and alarm systems. After packing the kids into the car, take a quick walk through the house and make sure you have everything secure.

To learn more about home security and crime prevention programs in your community, contact Constable Ingrid Hannah at (416) 808-5429 or visit the website at http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/crimeprevention.

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| March 27, 2012
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Stress-Free Destination Wedding

photo by Amy Postma, Cuba, 2005.

Minimize the planning and focus on the fun as you gear up for your destination wedding!

by Amy Postma

photo by Amy Postma, Cuba, 2005.

My fiancé and I always knew we wanted to do a destination wedding, long before he proposed this winter. The first time we had ever gone away anywhere together was to my brother’s wedding in Cuba, and a holiday to the Mayan Riviera last winter made it clear: we were beach wedding people.

Now the planning has begun, and it is pretty much finished. We are now just waiting for our guests to book and only have to think about what we are going to wear and pack. From my experience, I offer the potential bride and groom these tips:

Do your research:

Compile a list of destinations and resorts that appeal to you. Use tour operators’ books to get an overview of resorts’ size, restaurants, and room options and activities offered. These will also tell you if the resort offers weddings. You can find these books at travel agencies or CAA for free. After you have a few ideas, use websites like tripadvisor.ca and bestdestinationwedding.com for more ideas and reviews of the resorts. Read reviews with a grain of salt however, taking into account your personality and what you want out of the trip. Narrow down your list to a manageable amount of resorts, anywhere from three to ten. Throw out any maybes.

photo by Amy Postma, Cuba, 2005

Meet with a travel agent:

A travel agent is an invaluable tool as you go through the booking process. My fiancé and I ended up bringing our top 5 resort picks to two agents from different agencies. Each of them obtained our quotes based on group rates and early booking bonuses. While we absolutely loved our first travel agent, who gave us great advice and was personable yet honest as well as throughout, we were quite glad we ended up going with the second agent, because our quotes were significantly lower from the second agency. She then provided us with the information needed to book, which we passed along to our guests via email, including location, date, amount, deposit amounts, relevant due dates, and the travel agent’s contact information.

Contact your resort directly:

It is important to make sure you can reserve a ceremony time before you start booking the trip. Email the resort to get in touch with their wedding coordinator, who will be able to schedule your ceremony time and answer questions you may have. In general, most of the decisions are finalized once you are at the resort in a brief meeting with the coordinator soon after you arrive, making planning as simple as possible. Also make sure to ask about what important documents you need to bring with you or send ahead of your arrival, as well as, what the minimum requirements are for being in the country before the ceremony. Likely you will need to forward them information on your full names, citizenship, date of birth, and passport information, as well as, a guest list.

Think about your guests:

Send your guests a “save-the-date” as soon as you have figured out a plausible date. This gives your guests more lead-time to carefully consider if this type of trip and expense will work for them. Then, when they are faced with booking information and deadlines, they are more prepared. In addition, consider preparing a welcome bag for each room. This can be given right after arrival as guests are settling into their rooms, or at an event before the trip, such as a casual meet and greet for guests that may not know each other. This could include items like flip-flops, sunscreen, lip balm, and comfort candy. Also make sure to include a program for the day of the wedding, including location and pertinent times. It may help acclimatize your guests to have a map of the resort and surrounding points of interest.

Some General Tips:

  • A destination wedding is great for a laid-back couple, but may not be right for someone who wants an over-the-top ceremony with a hand in all the details.
  • While planning for the ceremony itself should be smooth and simple, make sure to look into all the requirements for documentation abroad and registering the marriage once you are back in Canada.
  • Make yourself available to your potential guests: this may be a big decision for them and they may have concerns they are timid to bring up.
  • Recognize that this is a different sort of circumstance and not necessarily all of the most important people in your life will be able to make it.
  • Don’t dwell negatively about leaving people off of your invite list. People understand that a destination wedding is generally a much more intimate affair. If you are planning on having any sort of reception or open house when you return, this is a great way to include everyone.
  • Use email to communicate with guests, as traditional invitations do not allow you to get pertinent information out to guests soon enough, especially considering booking deadlines. Get in touch with those that may not use email by phone or in person if possible.
  • Be excited! This will be an unforgettable way to start your life together!
Category: Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , , ,
| March 13, 2012
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Online Bargain Shopping

photo by Renjith Krishnan

Your Guide to Daily Deal Websites

by Lauren Sena

photo by Renjith Krishnan, 2011

Are online ads bombarding you with deals that seem too good to be true? While many of these may seem like a scam, the good news is that there are now several legitimate websites offering products and services at a chunk of the original price. As a bargain hunter, I am easily able to find deals on these sites that fit my needs and location. No matter what your preferences may be, you are sure to discover great finds at great prices!

For the Fashionista
Want a designer purse but don’t want to pay designer prices? Beyond the Rack offers clothing and accessories for up to 80% off the retail value. But you have to act quickly – like other deal sites, each sale is available for a limited time, with limited quantities. With brands featured such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Betsey Johnson, and BCBG, you’ll have a coveted style that no one will ever know you only paid a fraction of the price for!

For the Foodie
Groupon’s “Now! Deals” allow you to see food and drink offers for that particular day. This is a great way to try out new restaurants without breaking your wallet. By entering your location, you’ll be able choose from a variety of dining options that include Greek, Italian, and Japanese fare. Simply purchase your choice, print out your voucher, and you’re ready to go. Groupon can also notify you by email of offers that coincide with your interests if you select words and phrases that best describe you. So if you love going out to eat, be sure to select “Foodie” to get tasty deals delivered to your inbox!

For the Travel Lover
Whether you want to escape for the weekend or go on a weeklong Caribbean vacation, you can find discounted travel options on these sites. What’s terrific about these deals is that they not only cover the cost of the hotel, but also include extras such as food vouchers, day activities, and parking. LivingSocial and Groupon have a huge selection of international destinations, while Dealfind and Jaunt  are great for weekend getaways within Canada.

For the Design-Savvy
Fab.com offers unique design products. Only on this deal site will you come across a furry Cyclops iPad cover and bright pink Louis XV-inspired armchairs. This site makes shopping easy, allowing you to browse by category (art, jewellery, pets, etc.), colour, or price. Unfortunately, they do not ship to Canada as of yet, but Melissa Klein, Fab.com’s vice president of communications, assures that they will very soon. Even so, I find myself constantly browsing their products, inspired by the creative takes on typical items. It is definitely a site to look out for in the near future.

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| March 6, 2012
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Pros and Cons of the Packaged Bus Tour

Photo by Megan Patterson, Tokyo, 2010

Are they really the best value for your money?

by Megan Patterson

Photo by Megan Patterson, Tokyo, 2010

There are a lot of packaged bus tours out there promising to take you on your dream vacation for a good deal. But is it really such a steal? And is it the right kind of vacation for you? I have been on one before, touring southern Europe and was surprised at what I learned about these tours−both good and bad. Now I’m here to share these lessons with you before you decide to commit to a tour.

The Pros

  1. It’s easier to travel in a group. If you’re going alone or you’re not a very experienced traveller, a tour is a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time. Your itinerary is set, you don’t have to pay extra for transportation (most of the time), and any fees and visas you need to country-hop are taken care of for you.
  2. It’s safer. Tours avoid high risk areas, so there’s pretty much no chance of your tour bus breaking down in the middle of nowhere or in a scary part of the city because they’re well maintained, and you’re much less to get mugged in a large group.
  3. There are always people around. People who speak your language, that you can make plans with and whom you can turn to if you get lost. I wouldn’t have made it home from my tour if I hadn’t run into some people from my group who knew where the hotel was.
  4. It can be cheaper. If the cost of airfare is included in the tour, it is often much cheaper than buying it independently.
  5. Access to unusual destinations. Going with a tour group can make it much easier to get to certain out of the way places–like Nepal or Antarctica (you have to go with a tour group to travel there)−even places where it’s impossible to go on your own.
  6. You can also get access to overcrowded attractions. For example, The Vatican museum can be a madhouse if you go on your own, but tour groups often get their own private tours, so it’s much less crowded and you’re able to see a lot more.

The Cons

  1. Food is included, but is it good food? Part of the lure of such a package is having meals provided. Unfortunately, the providers of these meals are trying to please everyone so they serve you the most boring thing ever. I was served chicken and French fries for a lot of the dinners that was provided, and this is not an uncommon practice. This is not the case with every tour group. Some tour groups have better reputations for food than others, so definitely do your research beforehand.
  2. Since the hotel has to be able to accommodate a bus, they are usually in the middle of nowhere. The tour I went on also gave us free time, meaning we had to figure out how to get back on our own. This would have been fine if the hotels weren’t so off the beaten path they weren’t even on the maps the tour company provided us with. The girl I was sharing a room with wasn’t lucky enough to find other group members like I did and wound up spending the night at her embassy.
  3. The hotel quality also can vary for the same reason. For the most part, the hotels we stayed in were nice but a few of them were pretty sketchy and rundown, and again, in the middle of nowhere.
  4. More than half of the excursions cost extra. Usually the tour includes the greatest hits of the city you’re in, although sometimes you don’t even get to see them up close. But sometimes if you want to do something extra, it costs extra. And since you don’t have a lot of time in each city, it’s hard to figure out how to do it on your own.
  5. The tour guide may not be as knowledgeable as you’d like. Mine knew where the best clubs were at in most cities, but that was about it.
  6. You don’t get to pick who you’re traveling with. I was the youngest person in a group of mainly 30-something couples, and it was advertised as a youth-oriented tour company.

Personally, I will never take a packaged bus tour again. They’re just not for me. I like going to a place and exploring it bit by bit in my own time and not having to freak out about not knowing where the hotel is or be left behind. I also like experiencing the food of the place I’m staying and not be forced to eat the same thing over and over again. This is not to say I will never take a tour again. When I went away with my sister, we did take a couple of day tours to see the main attractions and even one over the weekend so we could go to the countryside. They were great and totally worth the money. Your personality and travel style might determine how you travel, and hopefully, this list will help you decide whether or not you are the type of person who will enjoy a tour.

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| February 21, 2012
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Travel Tips for the Frugal

Mac Pale, Curacao, 2011

Get the best deals on your vacations every time

by Megan Patterson

Mac Pale, Curacao, 2011

Traveling is awesome, but expensive. Luckily, there are more ways than ever before to get the best deals on your wanderings thanks to the internet. But it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. This handy guide is here to help!

  1. Make a budget. This might seem kind of elementary, but it’s important! Know how much you plan to spend and then stick to it! Cash can get eaten up quickly when you’re in a new place if you’re not paying attention to where every dollar is going.
  2. Make sure your budget is realistic. For saving and budgeting purposes, research and see how much the trip is realistically going to cost you before you go. Two thousand dollars is a reasonable budget for a resort in Central America during the off-season, but this is not the case if you want to go to Asia.
  3. Buy your fare either well in advance, or at the last minute to get the best prices. The ideal times to buy your plane tickets are: 10 months to a year before departure, or two weeks and under.
  4. Be flexible. Traveling midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday) costs hundreds of dollars less than traveling any other day during the week. Also, traveling offseason (which varies depending on where you want to go) is significantly cheaper. My family used to go to Disney World during the offseason. It was incredibly awesome because no one else was there, and we almost never had to wait in line for a ride. We went on Splash Mountain 20 times in a row!
  5. Don’t be afraid of the budget hotel. As long as it’s clean, has a bed and shower, and is in a good location, you don’t have to be picky about where to stay when you go away. You don’t spend a lot of your time at the hotel anyway, so why pay more than you have to? Sites like: Expedia, Travelocity, Budget Hotel and Cheap Hotels are great for finding cheap hotels−and they are usually reviewed, so you know whether it’s any good or not. And of course, don’t knock off hostels. Many of them have private rooms now, and it’s still a lot cheaper than a hotel.
  6. For extended stays, consider renting an apartment. If you’re staying a month or more, finding a short-term rental might be the most cost effective option for accommodations. Bonus: You get a full kitchen, so you can cook almost all of your meals if you choose to do so. Some good sites to consider:

    • www.touristapartments.com (Europe)
    • www.sakura-house.com/en/ (Tokyo)
    • www.110apartments.com (Worldwide, depends on where people are posting them)
    • www.lodgis.com (Paris, New York, Israel)

  7. Don’t eat all your meals at restaurants. For example, I never eat breakfast out when I’m on vacation (unless I’m staying somewhere it’s included). I get a place with a fridge and a kettle, buy things like yogurt, soy milk, oatmeal, cereal, or breakfast bars, and eat at the hotel. I don’t go out to eat unless I’m craving something I can’t make, like French toast or waffles.
  8. Sign up for travel deal sites, such as Travel Zoo. Sign up with your email and then let the deals come trickling into your inbox. They also have a great tool on their site where you can compare prices at multiple travel websites.
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